Inigo Martinez talks Barcelona exit, Fermin, Lamine, Inter Milan loss, Real Madrid – ‘Decision was not easy’ | OneFootball

Former Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez has finally spoken about his sudden departure from the club this summer, which resulted in a move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia.

The experienced centre-back, who became an important player under Hansi Flick, revealed in an interview with Jijantes the details behind his exit, his emotional conversation with Flick, and his reflections on Barcelona’s key moments last season.

Martinez explained how the decision came about while travelling with the squad, sharing a private exchange with Flick.

“I had a conversation with Hansi at one of the plane’s emergency exits. We discussed the situation, and the manager was in shock. I told him I had an offer I considered irresistible.”

Leaving Barcelona was not an easy choice, but he appreciated the way the club handled the situation.

“It wasn’t easy; I had to make the decision very quickly. At the time, I thanked the club for making my departure easier; not all of them do that.”

Looking back on his time in Spain, he admitted that the previous campaign was a personal high point. “Last year was the best of my career, but I thought it was very difficult for me to stay another year.”

On Fermin Lopez

Martinez also praised his former teammate Fermin Lopez, highlighting his importance in the dressing room.

“Fermin is very important to the dressing room, and every time he comes out, he contributes something.

Inigo Martinez now plays for Al Nassr. (Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)

“He’s quiet and always has a smile. He is very noble and contributes a lot to the team. I was very clear that Fermín wasn’t going to leave Barça.

“At the farewell, I told him to continue doing what he does, that he’s going to be very important,” he said.

Reflection on key matches

Recalling the painful Champions League semi-final loss against Inter Milan, Martinez admitted it was one of the hardest moments of his career.

“That semifinal was a huge blow. The elimination was unfair; we deserved to be in that final. It’s going to be difficult to get another chance. Let’s hope it’s this year. I’ll be there.”

He also spoke highly of young talent Lamine Yamal, saying,

“I’ve been able to play with some very good players, and this one is spectacular off the pitch.

“To stop him, you have to take him out of the game, but he’s smart. The good thing about him is that he doesn’t care about anything.”

Finally, Martinez didn’t hold back when speaking about Real Madrid. “The only one Real Madrid respected was us.

“You could smell it on the pitch, you could sense it. It was only two laps later that we saw their faces, like they couldn’t. That was our feeling, and that’s why we won.”